Author
Topic: Isle of Carandia (RPG) (Read 1032 times)

A new Halfling was standing behind the bar as Obsidian approached, female with long dark red hair obscuring half her face and clearly younger than the grey haired Brindle."Daaad, someone finally has the smarts to ask about our supply problem." She called out directing it downwards behind the counter. Thumping resonated through the counter, until Brindle popped back up with a keg as large as himself loaded on his back.

"Aaah, I figured you lot would. Findle, cover the bar while I talk to them? And don't forget our temporary prices this time?" He hoisted a keg onto an empty bracket behind the counter, checked the spigot was securely fastened, and leaned over the counter to speak to Obsidian, sighing breifly to start with."Look, Jois is a good man, and I would never think him at fault without evidence. But I haven't the time to trump around for new suppliers, so I need him back up to his best." Rubbing his hands with a cloth he paused, clearly feeling a little disheartened. "The increased prices mean I can offer a decent reward if you can travel to his Brew and Meadery, find out what trouble he may or may not be in, and come back to tell me whats up.... "

"And what reward are you offering?" The Dwarf asked, with a pang of underwhelm-ment as she had hoped something more substantial would mark her start as an adventurer outside Vantadurn. "I'm not just anybody's messenger, you get me?"

"Well, I'll do you and the group free-room and board tonight if you travel tomorrow, or for a night on your return. I can also do 20gold for each member of the party when you return."

"Hmmm, I'm not saying yes straight away. I think I heard one of them complain about not discussing it with them first." Obsidian waved as she returned to the table, and relayed what Brindle was wanting and what he offered as payment."What do you lot think?"

Hlaine lowered his tankard. "Alright, seeing as we're apparently doing this anyway, I'm going to need more to work with." he sighed. He noted the barman's worried expression. "No, no, not as in rewards or free ale, don't worry. What I need is information. Any other issues in the area that might connect? Any rumours hat might tie in at all, or anything in the area that might have caused some issues?"

Hlaine noted the curious expressions from the others at the table. "What? At this stage it could be anything from wild beasts making gathering ingredients difficult to half the staff being wiped out by illness. Just trying to narrow it down."

Brindle appeared at the table, a small meat sandwich in hand, he pulled up a chair."I don't mind how many of you want to take this job." He replied to the urchin gnome. "There does seem to have been an increase in bandits on the small countryside roads, a few even finding spots on the more established roads. You'd best be careful on your way to Lakenvale...." he took a pause to eat, his features showing he was in thought on what Hlaine and Aela had asked."Its unlikely they had a break in. Jois would have sent a message explaining as such... Something has affected his supply, I'm sure of that.... One thing that has been a notable change has been I haven't seen the delivery crew in as long. Before they would normally wake me in the night and we'd work together to load the barrels downstairs, and I'd pay for them and Jois in hand. Recently though they have been doing it all themselves and just taking the gold. I've tried staying up and waiting at the hatch outside, but I always somehow close my eyes for too long, and they've been and gone with no comment nor hello...."

"Nothing else is taken?" Benjamin enquired once Brindle had finished.

"That was one of my first concerns. My daughters and I at first searched the whole inn and our living area, but found nothing out of place beside the exact gold for payment..."

"How long ago did this start?" Obsidian chimed in.

"Ooh, it started a couple months ago, would you believe... I tried asking the town guards if they'd help, nothing. Posted a couple job listings in the Adventurers guild and nobody had any interest except complaining about my prices! Honestly this whole thing is mainly giving me stress because I'm losing business here, which is starting to hurt my profits... I'm sorry...." He stops and rubs his eyes, sighing softly.

"Assuming we can see the delivery crew, at least," added Ben. "Whereabouts is this brewery anyway? It might be worth a half of us staying here to try speaking to the delivery crew while the rest go check out the brewery."

Brindle collected himself, and looked over to Hlaine."Uhm.. I think... the next delivery is, meant to be tonight in fact..." He pauses to rub his face as he mentally pictures map of roadways to get to Lakenvale."Lets see, to get to Lakenvale, you follow the main road out the city, and take the first major road left, taking you towards Gemoscross. You then take the country road off to the right, which should take you straight to Lakenvale. Hopefully you can catch the deliverymen and they can load you onto their cart and save you wearing your boots down." Brindle pauses again in thought."It is strange how I've not seen them in so long despite the deliveries arriving and payment being taken..." He sighs."considering the delivery is tonight, I'll say I'll do your room and board tonight, and we'll see how things go once you return. You'll have to exucse me, it seems old Tyorbex is trying to propose to Findle again." With that, Brindle excuses himself from the table heading towards the bar where a grizzled warrior looking Dwarf was boasting his past exploits and promising a good life to Findle who was doing her best not to clobber the old man.

"Well then", Nyx addressed the group, "I guess we'd better get ready for them to show up, maybe we could hide near where they collect their payment just to make sure, or down by the empty casks. I can be pretty stealthy if I need to be and it helps that I can see in the dark".

She gazed around at the group, searching their eyes for the suggestion that it was a good idea. If you want to make it in an adventuring group then you have to make them see the advantage of having you around.

Aela, who had been half paying attention squeezed her eyes shut and reopened them, pinching the bridge of her nose and rubbing her eyes. She wasn't yet sure she liked alcohol. "Yeah." She added weakly as she tried not to feel nauseous. "I'll go with you." She replied to Nyx's suggestion before glancing over at the rest of the table. "Maybe we should split up?" She agreed, turning to Ben , Hlaine and offering more timid glance toward Obsidian. "Doesn't look like all of us would be suited for sneaking around. Er.. no offense intended."

"Hiding works, we can get the drop on them if there's anything suspicious going on and hopefully hitch a ride to the brewery and figure out what's gone on there." Hlaine said. "I'm gonna take a look around, see where would be best to hide and watch the approach as well as the delivery site."